Information about racing

[dreamer]

I hope this is at the right section of the forum...

I´m writing a story, well two actually, but right now I´m only writing on one, about race horses, and I´m going to try to make it a script.
But, I know very little about racing, and would be grateful for eveything you can tell me.

It´s about a girl who trains her own horses, and in the end she rides one of the horses in a race where the winner gets a lot of money.

How much can a race horse cost?

How do you train a race horse? If you are not riding on a track, what do you do?

What is a good time for a horse in a race, and what is a bad time? How do you know a horse is ready for a race?

Where are there race tracks?

What kind of races and derby`s are there?

Are different races for a small trainer than a more successful trainer, or does it depend on how good the horse is?

Thank you.

[Shammy Davis]

http://www.toba.org/

http://www.ntra.com/home

[ireneinwa]

Find a local farm/track were you can hang and ask questions.

[dreamer]

Thanks for the links. I will check them out.

The thing is where I live there are no race tracks, I would have to go about 497 miles to get to a race track. But I could searc for trainers and ask them some questions. But I´m guessing there are some differences in racing in America and racing in Sweden.

[TJ]

Thanks for the links. I will check them out.

The thing is where I live there are no race tracks, I would have to go about 497 miles to get to a race track. But I could searc for trainers and ask them some questions. But I´m guessing there are some differences in racing in America and racing in Sweden.

Hi Dreamer,
What you ask is a complete lesson in horse racing in a short time, which takes many years of experience to learn or understand 1/2 of what goes on back there.....a tough task. I think the easiest way for you to familiarize yourself with what goes on back there would be to buy a good collection of race related movies.....Champion's was a great movie portrayed fairly acurately pertaining to the way it is. Phar Lap would be of interest as well. Links to these movies are below and at the bottom of the Champion's link are more related DVD's I would highly recommend watching those as well. TJ

http://www.pharlap.com.au/products/PL_DVD.htm

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Champions-DVD-J ... B000296GU2

[dreamer]

Thank you TJ. I know I´m asking for quite a lot.

I have seen some movies about races horses, like Seabiscuit, The black stallion (also the TV-show) I have also read some books. Mayeb I should try to find them again...

I will check them out.

[Shammy Davis]

Looks to me like Sweden has Arabian and Harness Racing. No links in Sweden for the Thoroughbred or Quarterhorse, but try this address and telephone.

http://www.directoryoftheturf.com/profi ... rchid/5506

Oddly, this is a SAF site.

[Shannon]

Dreamer, there are a LOT of great informational books, as well as internet papers on horse racing out there, ebay is also a great resource for used material and maybe a local library or book store could help you out also? You could also contact publications such as Bloodhorse, Thoroughbred Times etc for info if you required it. There is a great website dedicated to only horse movies and books; someone posted a link for me here some time ago, will see if I can find it, can't recall the site name. Depending on the location you wish to write about (US, European, New Zealand/Australia, Japan etc) you will want to focus your research on their racing structure as each differs substantially.
Once you decide on a core location, contact the race authorities in the area, the governing bodies and ask for a copy of the racing rules and regulations, and drug books to use for reference. Also, speaking with vets, trainers, exercise riders etc in the area will be VERY helpful to you. I am sure once you pin down a core location for your story you could post here for contacts in that jurisdiction, people are very helpful.

A word of advice from a book junkie: if your plan is to market your story to horse savvy people, and racing is the central core of your story(as opposed to just a backdrop to a romance or murder story etc), GET IT RIGHT! Horse people are very critical when it comes to authenticity (see threads in general discussion regarding Secretariat and Sea Biscuit movies), and your book will be dead in the water if it's too far off reality.

Good luck! I am sure there many here who would help you proof your story once you get rolling with it (I gladly would!)

[Whirlaway]

---------> dreamer,

Take a look at this link: http://www.coolmore.com/farm.php?country=ireland Study these guys and learn about their operations then find the right contact person. Do they have an apprenticeship? If so, get into it and inform them of your plans. Live how they live for a few years, help with caring for a potential Champion, keep a daily journal. If the horse you care for wins the Guineas or the Arc, your journal will be the basis of your script. It can be a real life story . . . your own. Maybe they have a jockey apprenticeship and you can learn how to ride. Your dream won't happen overnight, but maybe if you're really really good we'll get to watch your movie.

Please give us your screen name so we'll know it is you!

[dreamer]

I want it to be as authentic as possible, and I realise I need to do a lot of research, much more than I´m used to.

The story takes place in America, so my reserach will be about racing in America. The story will be about more than racing, but it´s a big part of the story.

The thing is that I don´t have anyone backing me up. I´ve never gotten a book published, although I´m trying, and I`m writing on my first scripts, and hopefully someone would want to work with them and make them into movies. I have a lot of iimagination and I know I´m good at writing, and hopefully my scripts will be good enough.

To have an apprenticehsip for a trainer I guess would be the best, I just can´t do that right now.

I guess I will try to read as many books as I can and watch a lot of movies.

For the story to be authentic I guess I need to use names that are not already taken. And I know some of the names I wanted are already in use. I have looked a little at the Online Names Book. After one name there was an (R). What does that mean?

I have also found the Rule Book and will take a closer look at that.

[LB]

I want it to be as authentic as possible, and I realise I need to do a lot of research, much more than I´m used to.

The story takes place in America, so my reserach will be about racing in America. The story will be about more than racing, but it´s a big part of the story.

The thing is that I don´t have anyone backing me up. I´ve never gotten a book published, although I´m trying, and I`m writing on my first scripts, and hopefully someone would want to work with them and make them into movies. I have a lot of iimagination and I know I´m good at writing, and hopefully my scripts will be good enough.

To have an apprenticehsip for a trainer I guess would be the best, I just can´t do that right now.

I guess I will try to read as many books as I can and watch a lot of movies.

For the story to be authentic I guess I need to use names that are not already taken. And I know some of the names I wanted are already in use. I have looked a little at the Online Names Book. After one name there was an (R). What does that mean?

I have also found the Rule Book and will take a closer look at that.

To be perfectly frank, if you live in Sweden and are planning to write a book that takes place in America, you will have to do a lot more research than just about horseracing or your potential book will lack authenticity on several levels. Speaking as someone who has written several dozen novels, I would advise you to start out with a plot or storyline with which you have at least a basic level of familiarity.

(R) means that someone has reserved that name for future use.

I wouldn't worry about what names are available if I were you--that's not where the truth in your story will come from. Besides what will you do if you choose available names for your characters and in the years it takes to write the book and get it published, the names are selected for use?

[dreamer]

I want it to be as authentic as possible, and I realise I need to do a lot of research, much more than I´m used to.

The story takes place in America, so my reserach will be about racing in America. The story will be about more than racing, but it´s a big part of the story.

The thing is that I don´t have anyone backing me up. I´ve never gotten a book published, although I´m trying, and I`m writing on my first scripts, and hopefully someone would want to work with them and make them into movies. I have a lot of iimagination and I know I´m good at writing, and hopefully my scripts will be good enough.

To have an apprenticehsip for a trainer I guess would be the best, I just can´t do that right now.

I guess I will try to read as many books as I can and watch a lot of movies.

For the story to be authentic I guess I need to use names that are not already taken. And I know some of the names I wanted are already in use. I have looked a little at the Online Names Book. After one name there was an (R). What does that mean?

I have also found the Rule Book and will take a closer look at that.

To be perfectly frank, if you live in Sweden and are planning to write a book that takes place in America, you will have to do a lot more research than just about horseracing or your potential book will lack authenticity on several levels. Speaking as someone who has written several dozen novels, I would advise you to start out with a plot or storyline with which you have at least a basic level of familiarity.

(R) means that someone has reserved that name for future use.

I wouldn't worry about what names are available if I were you--that's not where the truth in your story will come from. Besides what will you do if you choose available names for your characters and in the years it takes to write the book and get it published, the names are selected for use?

I know I have to do more research than just about horseracing, but it´s somewhere to start.

I have most of the story written. I haven´t written everything yet, but I have to think more about some thngs that are going to happen before I write them dowm.

I don´t know. I just thought that the horses names could be important too. But I`m not gonna thing that much about it then.

[Bast]

I guess I will try to read as many books as I can and watch a lot of movies.

Movies almost always get racing wrong. Really wrong. Hollywood has to tell their idea of what racing is, ignoring reality. Don't use movies as a source.

[parlo]

Yes, names of horses are important. There is an international list of names that can't be used any longer - "protected names" of famous horses in tb-history.

Don't use such a name for your horse(s) in the story. That would be ridiculous.

[dreamer]

Yes, names of horses are important. There is an international list of names that can't be used any longer - "protected names" of famous horses in tb-history.

Don't use such a name for your horse(s) in the story. That would be ridiculous.

Can you give me the link please.